Women’s soccer team knocks American River out of playoffs with 2-0 win!
The Folsom Lake College women's soccer team continued their march through the postseason on Tuesday afternoon with a convincing 2-0 victory over district rival American River at sun-splashed Falcon Stadium. Andrea Martinez got things started for the Falcons in the 6th minute when she broke through the Beavers' defense and drew the goalkeeper out on her before dropping a perfect feed to Keionna Claypoole for an easy Falcon goal. The Falcons' potent attacking line of Tiara Webb, Andrea Martinez, Keionna Claypoole, and Breanna Brumet continued to pressure the Beavers' defense with superior speed and ball-handling, but could not add to their score in the first half. Meanwhile, FLC's defense, led by sophomore Megan Trent, was up to the task of keeping the Beavers out of the goal. The Falcons extended their lead ten minutes into the second half on a textbook play that saw Martinez attack, then pass to Webb, who attacked and passed to Claypoole for her second easy goal of the afternoon. The Falcons came close to adding to their lead later in the half – one Martinez shot hit the post, and Shayla Merene chipped one over the keeper that just rolled wide - but none were needed as the defense stifled the Beavers the rest of the day. Falcon goalkeeper Valerie Ogorodnikov earned the shutout - the Falcons' 15th of the season - with several key saves. The win moves the Falcons (20-1-2) on to Round 3 of the CCCAA state playoffs, where they'll face a familiar opponent on Saturday, November 25. Big 8 Conference foe Santa Rosa (13-4-5) will play the Falcons for the sixth time in two years – and the second consecutive year in Round 3 of the state playoffs - at 2:00 pm at Falcon Stadium for the chance to go to the State Final Four on Dec 1-3. Of the five previous matches between the two teams, four have ended in a tie, including last year's playoff that went 120 scoreless minutes before the Falcons won on a penalty kick shootout.